Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Catfish is Optimist contest record
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Talk about a tangle! Jerry Horn had eight rods out when a 35.38-pound catfish hit one of his baits during the Cave Spring Optimist Club fishing tournament on Smith Mountain Lake. The big fish began towing Horn’s boat and tangling all those lines, much to the laughter of Horn’s brother, Don, who watched from a nearby boat.
But as the old saying goes, Jerry Horn was the one who laughed all the way to the bank. He pocketed a tournament check for $1,500, including a $500 bonus for the biggest cat ever entered in the 41-year history of the contest. The tournament attracted about 500 participants.
Horn, from Roanoke, was fishing live shad bait in the Blackwater River arm of the lake, working a spot that has been paying off for him and his brother for 30 years. Three years ago he caught a 37-pounder there, his best cat catch. Now he saves the hot spot for special occasions.
“The Optimist tournament is just about the only time I will fish it anymore,” he said.
Bill Hayes of Roanoke entered the tournament’s best striped bass, a very respectfull 29.12-pound catch. He was casting for black bass, using a swimbait that had been given him by Steve Kennedy, one of the pros that fished in the BASS Elite series on the lake the previous weekend.
The best crappie was a 1.70-pound catch entered by Clarence Sisson of Salem who fished well up the Blackwater River arm of the lake.
Ben Mullins of Roanoke entered the winning 7.10-pound largemouth bass while Gary Broothe registered the largest smallmouth, a 4.68-pound catch. Both fish were taken on a ThunderStick lure fished after dark (See Cochran Column).
No muskie was entered.
Here are the standings:
LARGEMOUTH BASS
1. Ben Mullins, Roanoke, 7.10
2. James Altice, Glade Hill 7.08
3. Brad Isbel, Troutville, 6.88
4. Ronnie Lemons, Vinton, 6.48
SMALLMOUTH BASS
1. Gary Boothe, Roanoke, 4.68
2. Tony Padgett, Goodview, 4.18
3. Ronnie Anderson, Catawba, 4.12
4. Lynn Evans, Ferrum, 3.90
STRIPED BASS
1. Bill Hayes, Roanoke, 29.12
2. Richard Oakes, Vinton 21.06
3. David Pendleton, Rocky Mount, 18.04
4. James Shelton, Gretna, 16.70
CRAPPIE
1. Clarence Sisson, Salem, 1.70
2. Mark Mathis, Goodview, 1.66
3. Milton Smith, Wirtz, 1.62
4. Rob Bailey, Roanoke, 1.60
CATFISH
1. Jerry Horn, Roanoke, 35.38
2. Ronald Wilson, Rocky Mount, 30.06
3. Sherman Moore, Union Hall, 30
4. Bobby Cook, Wirtz, 28.08
KID’S LARGE FISH (CAPR)
1. Jordan Thompson, Moneta, 8.56
2. Allen Yopp, Moneta, 6.15
3. Isaiah Phillips, Moneta, 5.88
KID’S SMALL FISH (SUNFISH)
1. Landon Mills, Gladehill, .48
2. Dalton Matney, Roanoke, 46
3. Justin Yerky, Wirtz, .40
BILL
TINY LINE + BIG FISH = WORLD RECORDS
The International Game Fish Association has awarded world record status to two spectacular catches from Virginia. James Sheffield earned a new line class record for the 44-pound, 2-ounce striped bass he caught on 4-pound line off Kiptopeke on Virginia’s Eastern Shore in late November.
In the fly rod category, J. Parks Rountrey was awarded a world record for catching a 29-pound, 8-ounce James River flathead catfish on 4-pund tippet.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- Jim Crumley, whose Trebark brand started the trend of modern camouflage, was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Botetourt Longbeards, a chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Crumley was called a “true legend” for his innovative work and was recognized for his years of support for wildlife resources and hunting.
- Three Maryland men were fined and given jail time for catching striped bass over the commercial limit that were valued at $2.15-million dollars. The fish came from the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding water from 2003 to 2007. The men also were charged hefty restitution fees.
- Officials in Maryland are telling boaters and other recreational users to stay off the Potomac River because river levels are hazardous following rains this week.
- A survey by Southwick Associates revealed that anglers say they will be taking fewer fishing trips outsider their home state this year.
BILL
VIRGINIA SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Here are the standings of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament:
BLUELINE TILEFISH: 20 pounds, 4 ounces, David Akridge, Jr. Norfolk, caught at Norfolk Canyon.
CROAKER: 3 pounds, 10 ounces, Philip Scott, Suffolk, Nansemond River.
FLOUNDER: 10 pounds, 9 ounce, James Breen, Newport News, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, Julie Ball, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SEA BASS: 8 pounds, 4 ounces, Rob Collins, Norfolk, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SPECKLED TROUT: 13 pounds, 14 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, Chris Brooks, Virginia Beach, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 66 pounds, 8 ounces, Pete Johnson, Hampton, Smith Island.
TAUTOG: 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Skip Feller, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.
TUNA (BLUEFIN): 119 pounds, Ryan Masters, Ellicott City, Md., Cigar.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Joe Malat’s Outer Banks Surf Fishing School, May 7-10, Comfort Inn South in Nags Head N.C.
TV coverage of the recent Advanced Auto Parts Blue Ridge Brawl on Smith Mountain Lake, ESPN2, 9 a.m., May 9.
Black Drum World Championship fishing tournament, May 15-17, Bay Creek Marina, Cape Charles, information and registration.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament May 17, check vfaa.org for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 31-June 4, Hatteras, N.C., $1,445, limited to 45 participants.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, June 1, Moneta Community Center, program on wildlife artistry by taxidermist Dale Carson.
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to finalize hunting/trapping regulations, 9 a.m., June 2, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St. Richmond.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament June 17, check vfaa.org for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
Kid’s fishing tournament, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, youth up to age 14, bait supplied, pre-register 8 to 8:45 a.m., tournament 9 to noon, dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/smi.shtml.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Aug. 16, check vfaa.org for for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Aug. 29, Salem Civic Center. Address questions or ticket purchase to Mike Kessler, or Al Milton.
Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., Roanoke Moose Lodge #284, 3233 Catawba Valley Drive, Roanoke County, $20 single, $35 couple, children under 12 free, tickets from Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874.
Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Sept. 13, check vfaa.org for details or contact Jim Overfelt.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
